Player-piano.



w. D. wAMsLEY.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED sEPLI. 1914.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH co., WASHINGTGN, D. c.

WLD. WAMSLEY.

PLAYER PIANO; APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I s. 1914,

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTHNEY,

THE coLIJMBIA PIJINOGRAPH CO.. WASHINGTCIN, D. C.

ving specification and UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WAYNE D. WAMSLEY, OF CHESTER/,'PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LESTER PIANO COMPANY,Y 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANI'A.

PLAYER-PIANO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

Application filed September'lG, 1914. Serial No. 861,992.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, W'AYNE D. IVAMSLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chester, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Player-Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed to provide inter-connected mechanism for operating in sequence the pedal mechanism of a player piano and the shutter for concealing it, the apparatus being so arranged that the operator can conveniently control the aforesaid devices while remaining in the natural sitting position for playing the instrument.

The characteristic features of my invention are more clearly set out in the followthe accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lower part of a player pianoillustrating the application of my improvements thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 ofV Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the bottom panel of the piano showing the position of the apparatus when the shutter is closed; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing'the position of the apparatus when the shutter is open; and Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

In the drawings is shown the lower part of a usual player piano comprising the casing l, the removable lower front panel 2 containing the pedal opening 3, and the bellows 4 fixed to the casing and having pivoted thereto the frame 5 on which are pivoted the pedals 6 for operating the bellows through the links 7 and 8; A track or way 9 fixed on the panel 2 supports, through the hangers 10, the sliding shutter 11 for closing the opening 3 when the pedals are folded u out of operative position. A bent lever 12,v

fulcrumed on the stud 13 on the panel 2, has a head 14 containing a slot comprising the straight portion 14 and the curved portion 14 and is pivotally connected with a link 15, the link being pivotally connected with the shutter 11 so that when the lever is rocked on its fulcrum the shutter is moved along the track. A lever 16, fulcrumed on the stud 17 on the panel, has a head 18 con,- taining a slot comprising a straight section 18 and a section 18 curved oppositely to the slot section 14". The lever 16 is pivotto this position,

ally connected with the link 19 which is pivotally connected with the bearing 22 Von the pedal frame so that when the lever 16 is rocked on its fulcrum the pedal frame is elevated and lowered. The connection between the link 19 and the bearing 22 is preferably made readily detachable to permit the convenient removal of the panel 2 from the piano. A crank shaft 23 is journaled in a bracket 23.l iiXed to the panel 2 intermediate of the fulcrums of the levers 11 and 16 and has a pin 24 engaged in the Slo-ts in the heads 14 and 18. The parts are so proportioned and disposed that the curved slot section 14 is concentric with the aXis of the shaft 23 during substantially the portion of the throw of the shaft when Vits pin 24 is in engagement with the edge of the slot section 18, and the curved slot section 18 is concentric with the aXis of the shaft 23 during substantially the portion of the throw of the Shaft when its pin 24 is in engagement with the slot section 14. The lever 16 is preferably a lever of the first class while the lever 12 is preferably a lever of the second class.

In operation, when it is desired to open the shutter and lower the pedals, the handle 20 of the shaft 23 is turned anti-clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. In moving the pin 24 runs freely in the curved slot section 18 until it comes to the section 18, but engages the side of the slot section 14 so as to rock the lever 12 on its fulcrum and draw back the shutter. As the pin rises it acts in the slot section 18 to rock the lever 16 and lower the pedal frame, which acts freely in the slot section 14 now substantially concentric with the shaft 23. In the reverse operation, upon turning the handle of the shaft clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 1, the pin first travels freely through the slot section 14, and engages the edge of the slot section 18 to elevate the pedals and, upon reaching the end of these slot sections, runs freely in the slot section 18 and engages the edge of the slot section 14 to close the shutter.

Having described my invention', I. claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of pedal mechanism and a shutter, with inter-connected mechanism for operating said shutter and pedal mechanism in sequence, said interconnected mechanism having curved bearings movable into positions concentric With a common center, whereby said pedal mechanism and shutter each remains inoperative during a movement ofthe other.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a shutter and pedal mechanism, With a lever connected With said shutter, a lever movable relatively to said pedal mechanism, and means comprising a pin connected With said levers for operating them in sequence.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination o pedal mechanism and a shutter therefor, With a lever connected with said shutter, a lever connected with said pedal mechanism and a shaft having a crank which is connected with said levers, said crank being movable relatively to and operating said levers.

il. In apparatus ci the character described, the combination of pedal mechanism and a shutter therefor, With a device for operating said pedal mechanism, a device for operating said shutter, a shaft, and means operated by said shaft for operating said devices, said devices each having a Way for engaging said means, said devices respectively being movable to positions in which the respective Ways are concentric with the axis of said draft for engaging said means.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of pedal mechanism and a shutter therefor, With a lever connected With said pedal mechanism and provided with a Way having a curved section, a lever connected with said shutter and provided with a Way having a curved section, and a pin movable in said Ways for rocking said levers.

G. In apparatus of the class described, a shaft movable about its axis, a pair of levers each having a Way provided With a curved section concentric with the axis of said shaft in positions of the respective levers, means for rocking said levers, and operating mechanism and a cover therefor operated by said levers. Y

7. In apparatus of `the character described, a pair of levers each having a Way comprising a curved section, means for rocking said levers so as to bring said curved sections alternately into position concentric With a common center, and devices comprising a ulcrumed member and a slide operated by said levers.

In testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my name this 12 day of September, 1914, in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

Jos. G. DENNY, Jr., C. N. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. C. 

